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courageous

adjective

kə-ˈrā-jəs How to pronounce courageous (audio)
Definition of courageousnext
as in brave
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament the courageous decision to quit rather than obey an illegal order

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of courageous Those early songs and some of that stuff was so courageous, so good. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 The current climate demands bold, courageous leadership to defend our constitutional freedoms. — Jack Springgate, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Featuring seascape settings and insightful dialogue, this coastal noir tale delivers important ideas with a courageous heart. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 But no revelation is as courageous or groundbreaking as Panettiere’s description of her experience with postpartum depression. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for courageous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courageous
  1. brave
  2. fearless
  3. valiant
  4. heroic
  5. gallant
  6. bold
Adjective
  • Watching someone make a brave decision or step into a new version of themselves matters deeply to me.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This brave girl fought her way through treatment and is now a happy, healthy survivor ready for the next chapter of her life — a forever home.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of brave
Adjective
  • Powerful women raised me, and my mother raised a fearless daughter.
    — Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
  • But Madeley, who was born with spina bifida, plays her with a fearless determination and passion that would make the real Heumann proud.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fearless
Adjective
  • Which puts a spotlight on the embarrassing disorder of Expo Park itself (despite valiant efforts from its current leadership, including a parking lot soon to be turned into a park near BMO Stadium).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Tong’s valiant charge promises to yield returns in the longer term, but CT leadership must do more now to restore Connecticut’s reputation and status as a haven for all families.
    — Dr. SJ Job, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of valiant
Adjective
  • Mitch Holthus absolutely losing his mind as Patrick Mahomes opens 2026 with a heroic 15-yard TD run.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Peck walked away with a new appreciation of the range of his grandfather, who was best known for playing heroic and morally upright roles in films such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Cape Fear and The Omen.
    — Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of heroic
Adjective
  • First to one knee and then all the way up like a gallant fighter gathering himself.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Clearly, Americans didn’t do gallant failure, instead demanding domination over mere participation every time.
    — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Definition of gallant
Adjective
  • Still, the current team does have a rare shot at shaping an orchestra that is not only reliably exciting and frequently profound but also casually bold and genuinely fun — making for a crucial presence in the city as well as at Geffen Hall.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • His bold, unique style was an immediate hit with ad agencies, publications, the corporate world and in pop culture.
    — BETH J. HARPAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of bold

Browse Nearby Words

courage
courageous
courageously
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Cite this Entry

“Courageous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courageous. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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